News

Enter a K-Kids contest!
Encourage your K-Kids members to enter a K-Kids contest. It’s a fun way for kids to discover their strengths. And because there are contests for both clubs and individual club members, students can find something that fits their comfort level.

Know of some creative club members? They could give a speech, write an essay, or use their artistic abilities to create a poster. If you’re more interested in encouraging collaboration among members, suggest that they work together to create a picture book, put together a scrapbook or write a detailed account of what they consider to be the club’s best single service project.

This year’s contest themes ask K-Kids members to look inward and reflect about how what they do day to day affects others. Themes focus on empathy, caring, inclusiveness, leadership, character building and happiness. Here‘s a quick look at the updated contest booklet and themes for the 2014–15 year. Check out the contest entry and recognition process for more information about how contests are judged and recognition is awarded.

Reward your amazing members
Honor your K-Kids Club Member of the Year or Outstanding Service Leadership award recipients with free certificates! Download the fillable and printable certificates on the Contest Information page.

It’s important to educate club members at the beginning of the year about the recognition they could receive so they understand what needs to be done to earn it. The K-Kids Member of the Year criteria is not provided. Establishing the criteria as a club is a great way for everyone to be involved! Brainstorm together and display the award criteria in a prominent area.

The beginning of the new year is the perfect time to recruit new members. Encourage your club to hold a membership drive. Here are some tips:

People join people. It's likely most club members joined because they were asked by a friend. Encourage members to share their experience with friends and ask them to join.Establish goals. How many members does your club need to accomplish its service goals for the year? Help your club set a realistic goal and then brainstorm how to get there.Take action. Hang posters, make announcements about meetings, hold an ice cream social, do a mini service project during lunch (such as making bookmarks for the school library or a senior center). Be visible and show the school how exciting it is to be in K-Kids.

According to research by Key Club partner Project Happiness, “The more that gratitude and appreciation are practiced, the more this perspective becomes second nature. The scientific explanation is that repeated behavior changes the neuropathways of the brain. It’s a simple and effective way to shift a student’s mind to positive, which enhances learning and gets the day off to good start.”

Consider starting your club meetings with a “gratitude check-in.” Each club member talks about three things he or she is grateful for that day. Another way your club members can show appreciation is by writing a gratitude letter to someone who has influenced or inspired them. Have members either mail or hand deliver their letters. Here’s a letter template that your club can use for this project.

At your next club meeting, encourage your club members to be creative and crafty. Gather art supplies (markers, crayons, construction paper, stickers, etc.), and ask each club member to create a holiday placemat. Then let your club members decide where they’d like to donate their placemats to bring cheer to those who might need it. Suggestions of places to donate: homeless shelters, nursing homes, hospitals and food banks.

You did it! Thanks for making 2014 the best Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF yet. Your K-Kids club saved the lives of moms and babies because you chose to collect coins instead of candy. Now it’s time to celebrate! Announce your accomplishment to the school. Hold a pizza party or ice cream social to recognize your club members’ contribution to eliminating maternal and neonatal tetanus. And don’t forget to send in your hard-earned funds.

Send a check or money order (payable to the Kiwanis International Foundation) for at least US$250 along with your completed gift form by December 31 to be eligible for a Trick-or-Treat banner patch. Funds should be mailed to:

The Eliminate Project: Campaign Office

Kiwanis International Foundation

3636 Woodview Trace

Indianapolis, IN 46268, USA

ATTN: Trick-or-Treat

Write the club name or club number on the memo line of the check.

What’s next? If your club loved being part of the worldwide effort to raise funds for The Eliminate Project, then mark your calendars for Eliminate Week, May 4–8, 2015. Kiwanis-family clubs around the world will focus on raising funds and awareness for The Eliminate Project. Every K-Kids club is needed to participate. Stay tuned for more information and resources.

Bowling Green K-Kids President Sofia Passariello, a 4th grader, was the recipient of the Presidential Walter Zeller Fellowship in recognition of her efforts to rid the world of maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT) through the vaccination of mothers and babies in developing countries.

As Club President, Sofia has led the Bowling Green K-Kids efforts to support the Kiwanis International Foundation’s Eliminate Project, a partnership with UNICEF that seeks to eliminate MNT from the countries of the developing world through safe birth practices and vaccination of women of child bearing age.

The Bowling Green K-Kids have tirelessly supported the Eliminate Project since its inception. At the 2010 Kiwanis International Convention in Las Vegas, the K-Kids made the very first donation to the still unnamed global campaign for children. Later in the convention, Kiwanis International announced their new global campaign for children would be the Eliminate Project, a five year campaign to raise $110 million to end the needless deaths of mothers and babies due to the biblical “Seven Day Death.”

To date, the Bowling Green K-Kids have donated more money to the Eliminate Project than any other K-Kids in the world. The club has made donations totaling over $12,000 to the campaign supplying life-saving vaccinations to nearly 7,000 mothers. Bowling Green K-Kids have surpassed the Gold Level Global Service Society giving level twice and have even fulfilled a Bronze level model club commitment at the Kiwanis Level.

Under Sofia’s leadership, the club recently went trick-or-treating for the Eliminate Project/UNICEF and will once again dedicate the proceeds from its annual talent show in May to assist Kiwanis International to reach its $110 million goal by the summer of 2015.

The Bowling Green K-Kids is a student-led community service and leadership development organization for elementary school students sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of East Meadow. For more information about Kiwanis International’s Eliminate Project, please go to theeliminateproject.org.

Bowling Green K-Kids President Sofia Passariello, a 4th grader, was the recipient of the Presidential Walter Zeller Fellowship in recognition of her efforts to rid the world of maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT) through the vaccination of mothers and babies in developing countries.

As Club President, Sofia has led the Bowling Green K-Kids efforts to support the Kiwanis International Foundation’s Eliminate Project, a partnership with UNICEF that seeks to eliminate MNT from the countries of the developing world through safe birth practices and vaccination of women of child bearing age.

The Bowling Green K-Kids have tirelessly supported the Eliminate Project since its inception. At the 2010 Kiwanis International Convention in Las Vegas, the K-Kids made the very first donation to the still unnamed global campaign for children. Later in the convention, Kiwanis International announced their new global campaign for children would be the Eliminate Project, a five year campaign to raise $110 million to end the needless deaths of mothers and babies due to the biblical “Seven Day Death.”

To date, the Bowling Green K-Kids have donated more money to the Eliminate Project than any other K-Kids in the world. The club has made donations totaling over $12,000 to the campaign supplying life-saving vaccinations to nearly 7,000 mothers. Bowling Green K-Kids have surpassed the Gold Level Global Service Society giving level twice and have even fulfilled a Bronze level model club commitment at the Kiwanis Level.

Under Sofia’s leadership, the club recently went trick-or-treating for the Eliminate Project/UNICEF and will once again dedicate the proceeds from its annual talent show in May to assist Kiwanis International to reach its $110 million goal by the summer of 2015.

The Bowling Green K-Kids is a student-led community service and leadership development organization for elementary school students sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of East Meadow. For more information about Kiwanis International’s Eliminate Project, please go to theeliminateproject.org.

The Kiwanis family’s efforts through The Eliminate Project are making a big difference. The number of babies dying from neonatal tetanus dropped 15 percent between 2010 and 2013, according to a new report by the Child Health Epidemiology Reference Group. One baby now dies every 11 minutes—with approximately 9,000 fewer babies dying each year. But 134 newborns still die every day.

Find out Kiwanis’ latest fundraising totals during the next Worldwide Report Day on November 12, 2014, when we’ll showcase our progress the World Report website page. We’re on the verge of turning a global effort into a worldwide achievement with the strides we’re making toward our US$110 million goal. Help keep the momentum going!

November is Kiwanis Family Month. Celebrate your local Kiwanis family by planning a project or gathering with the K-Kids, Builders Club, Key Club, Circle K International or Aktion Club group that your Kiwanis club sponsors. Find out what they’ve been doing and how you can support their efforts in the coming year. And if you’re not already involved, sponsor a Service Leadership Program club today!

What's right with our schools? According to one Edmond, Oklahoma elementary school it's the Kiwanis Bring Up Grades Program. Take a moment to watch news coverage about the the Centennial Elementary School and how students are raising grades with a little help from the local Kiwanis club and a unique academic achievement program known as BUG.